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Hale the difference as Derry beat Limerick

Ronan Hale produced a rare moment of quality to hand Derry City a win on Shannonside as the Candystripes overcame the Blues at the Markets Field.

The Birmingham City striker looked the only player capable of producing in a non-event that was hard to watch for the small few in attendance, and he provided to end City’s losing run.

With Derry City having lost five on the spin, Limerick having lost four of their last five league clashes and neither side having anything to play for this season – this game had very little billing to live up to.

Team news didn’t enthuse the miniscule crowd either as the hosts named a starting XI without an established striker.

Indeed, the absence of Ellis was one of only two changes in the Blues side – with Will Fitzgerald occupying his number nine berth. Colman Kennedy replaced Killian Brouder in the other switch.

The Candystripes made four changes from their 3-2 defeat to the champions elect Dundalk – with the suspended Kevin McHattie, Rory Hale, Adrian Delap and Ali Roy all making way. Dean Shiels, Ben Fisk, Nicky Low and Danny Seaborne were their replacements.

These sides sides had met 15 times in the league since Limerick’s promotion in 2013, with Derry managing to outscore the Blues by 33 goals to six in that spell.

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